Swivel connection for railway switches and the like



J. c. MOCK 2,213,500

SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES AND THE LIKE Sept. 3, 1940.

Filed June 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIV I MVENTO MOI/7L 1. ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1940. x J. c MQCK I 2,213,500

SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY swITcHEs AND THE LIKE Filed June 4. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR ATTORN EY Sept. 3, 1940. J. c cK 2,213,500

SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES AND THE LIKE Filed June 4, 1938 S Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1940 sr'rE SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES AND THE LIKE 4 Claims.

The invention relates, in general, to railway track equipment and, more particularly, to a swivel construction for connecting track rods to the track points of railway switches, derailing switches and the like.

In general, such swivel constructions comprise a clip member secured to the track point and a dog member secured to the track rod, with a pivot device connecting the dog and clip. According to one form which the invention may assume, the clip member of the swivel connection is provided with a sectional bearing construction comprising a base section and a removable strap section. The dog is provided with a journal supported at both its upper and lower ends by a forked brace. The journal of the dog is disposed between the base and strap of the clip bearing, the strap extending through a recess between the journal and brace of the dog.

The swivel construction according to the invention may be used at the extreme end of the switch point and also, if desired, at intermediate points along the switch points. The invention is illustrated as applied to single switches, but it will be understood that it is also applicable to other uses, as for example, to derailing switches, to double slip switches, both to the switch points and center points thereof, to single slip switches, and to the movable center points of frog crossings.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended here to, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may-be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single switch with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections taken on the lines 33 and i l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the base member of the type of clip used at the extreme end of the switch point;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the base member of the type of clip used at intermediate points along the switch point;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the strap member in- In the following description and in the claims,

various details willbe identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in g I the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now it the drawings and, more particularly, to Fig. l, a track construction is shown made up of stock rails l0 and H, switch points l2 and I3, these rails resting on the usual tie plates (not shown), which in turn are supported by the usual railroad ties It. The tie plates are omitted for simplicity of illustration. The stock rails ll) and II are preferably of standard T-section and the switch points I2 and 63 may also be of standard T-section suitably planed and shaped in accordance with the usual practice of making switch points.-

Altho-ugh a certain type of switch point is shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that other suitable switch point constructions may be used.

The switch points are connected by switch rods indicated in general by It and ii. The switch rod l7 connects the extreme ends of the switch points and the switch rod it connects the switch points at intermediate places. Any number of intermediate switch rods 26 may, of course, be

used.

The switch rods It and Il may be made of the usual flat bar steel disposed vertically or edgevvise. The switch rods may be made in one piece or they may be made in sections with an insulating joint in the middle in accordance with well known practice. If desired, various forms of operating rods may be connected to the switch rods, operating rod l8 extending to a switch stand (not shown) and operating rod l9 extending to a locking device (not shown). Rods Ill and I9 are connected to rods and I! by boxes 20 and 2| which, in the event switch rods it and l! are made in two pieces, may also incorporate insulating joints. Switch rods l5 and ll are connected to switch points l2 and I3 by vertical swivel connections 22 and 23.

The dog member (Fig. 8) comprises a holder'- 36 opening downwardly to receive the switch rod H5. The dog also comprises a journal 3'! connected to the holder 36 by a forked brace 38 providing a recess 43. A strengthening web 39 is further provided to reinforce the construction. Nut and bolt assemblies 4| securely connect the vertical switch rod I6 to the holder 36.

The swivel connection is assembled as followsf Special nuts 43 (Fig. 9) are threaded on bolts 42 to rigidly secure the base 26 to the switch point. The nut 43 is a hexagonal nut having grooves or recesses 44 out into the ends of the hexagonal faces to facilitate tightening of the nut. Thus, the nut may be adjusted either by the usual open end wrench or by engaging an edged instrument, such as a screw driver, in the grooves 44 and hitting with a hammer.

To complete the assembly, the strap 33 is inserted through the recess 46 of the dog and then threaded onto the bolts 42 with the journal 3'! seated between the bearing sections 32 and 34. If desired, washers 45 may be located between the special nuts 43 and the strap 33 to provide proper bearing clearance between the journal 31 and bearing 32, 34. Nuts 46 are then threaded onto bolts 42 to securely clamp the strap 33 to the base 26.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, special swivel connections 23 are provided for the ends of the switch points #2 and I3. As shown in Fig. 5, the modified form of base member, indicated by 53, is provided with a bearing section 53, corresponding to bearing section 32, an extension 5| for connection to the switch point and another extension 52 for connection to a stud Bl. The stud 3| supports a socket member 62 connected to rod 63 extending to special track apparatus, as for example, a switch circuit controller. The bearing section 53 is provided with a seat 54, This swivel connection uses the same strap 33 (Fig. '7) and the same dog (Fig. 8) as used in the first swivel construction described above.

The end swivel construction is assembled as follows:

Nut and bolt assembly 55 passes through the end of extension 5! and the reenforcing plates and web of the switch point l3, for example. The base 55) is further secured in position by the bolt 53 also passing through the switch point 13. The special hexagonal nut, indicated by 57, is similar in construction to that of Fig. 9, and is threaded onto bolt 56, as indicated in Fig. 1, to clamp base 56 to the switch point. Nut 58 is threaded on bolt 56 to hold strap 33 in position.

The stud BI is secured to extension 52 by bolt and nut assemblies 59 and 63. Assembly 59 also passes through the strap 33 to clamp it in position. In this construction, as in the construction of swivels 22, washers (not shown) may be interposed between the strap 33, on the one hand, and the special nut 51 and extension 52, respectively, on the other hand, to provide proper clearpecially advantageous in that the journal is supported at both ends by the forked brace 38. The seats 3i and 54 of the clips take the downward thrust of the journals 3'! due to the weight of the switch rods. Proper bearing relation is insured by using the proper size washers 45. Sufficient tightness is obtained between the journals and bearings to insure rigidity of support to the switch points and yet to provide easy operation when the switch points are operated by the switch stand or other switch operating mechanism.

It will be noted that in both the end swivel connections 23 and the intermediate connections 22 the swivel bearings and journals are located above the level of the base flange of the switch points 12 and i3 and close to the webs to apply the bracing force as near as possible to the top of the switch points while still allowing the necessary clearances for the wheel flanges. This provides maximum bracing action against tipping of the switch points. It will be noted further that substantially no vertical movement is permitted between the journals 3! and their bearings and that the switch rods l6 and I! pass closely under the base flanges of the stock rails iii and H, to effectively hold down the switch points I2 and 13 with respect to the stock rails I 0 and I I.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In railway track equipment, a stock rail, a movable rail point having a web and a base flange, a rod for moving said rail point and bracing it against tipping, a clip comprising an attaching member secured to said web and a swivel holder disposed above the level of said flange and close to the line of said web, a dog comprising a rod holder secured to said rod, said dog also comprising a brace member connecting said rod holder and straddling the top and bottom of said swivel holder, a vertical pivot member connected to said brace member at top and bottom and to said swivel holder to provide swivel movement of said dog and clip in a horizontal plane and to provide effective support against tipping of said rail point.

2. In railway track equipment, a stock rail, a movable rail point having a web and a base flange, a rod for moving said rail point and bracing it against tipping, a clip comprising an attaching member secured to said web and a bearing section having a substantially vertical bearing surface disposed above the level of said base flange and close to the line of said web, a dog comprising a journal portion disposed against said bearing surface, said dog also comprising a rod holder secured to said rod, said dog further comprising a forked brace member integral with said rod holder and integral with the top and bottom of said journal portion thereby providing an opening, a bearing section having a bearing surface extending through said opening and secured to said clip to hold said bearing sections together with the journal portion journalled between said bearing surfaces for easy pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, said forked brace member providing efifective support against tipping of said rail point.

3. In railway track equipment, a stock rail, a movable rail point having a web and a base flange, a rod for moving said rail point and bracing it against tipping, a clip comprising an at-- taching member bolted to said web and a bearing section having a substantially vertical bearing surface and a substantially horizontal seat at the lower end of said bearing surface, a dog comprising a journal portion disposed against said bearing surface and resting on said seat, said dog also comprising a rod holder secured to said rod, said dog also comprising a forked brace member integral with said rod holder and integral with the top and bottom of said journal portion thereby providing an opening, a bearing section having a bearing surface extending through said opening and bolted to said clip to hold said bearing sections together with the journal portion journalled between said bearing surfaces for easy pivotal 30 movement in a horizontal plane, said forked brace member providing effective support against tipping of said rail point.

4. In railway track equipment, a stock rail, a movable rail point having a web and a base flange, an edgewise disposed rod for moving said rail point and bracing it against tipping, a clip comprising an attaching member bolted to said web and a bearing section having a substantially vertical bearing surface and a substantially horizontal seat at the lower end of said bearing surface, said seat being disposed above the level of said base flange with said bearing section close to the line of said web, a dog comprising a journal portion disposed against said bearing surface and resting on said seat, said dog also comprising a depending rod holder having a vertically extending recess in which said rod is disposed and bolted thereto, said dog also, comprising a forked brace member integral with said rod holder and integral with the top and bottom of said journal portion thereby providing an opening, a bearing section having a bearing surface and extending through said opening and'bolted to said attaching member to hold said bearing sections together with the journal portion journalled between said bearing surfaces for easy pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, said forked brace member providing effective support against tipping of said rail point.

JAMES C. MOCK. 

